Obituary of Carrie Inez Mabrey (Hodges)

Carrie Inez Mabrey (Hodges), passed on from this life December 8, 2020, circled in love by her family in her home in Jacksonville, Florida. Carrie was born on November 21, 1936 in Uriah, Alabama to Amanda (Brown) and James Richard Hodges. Carrie married James Collins McDonald on April 14th, 1950. Together they raised a combined eight children. She made a life for her beloved children through nursing. Obtaining first her CNA, LPN, and then her RN (BSN) degree. She was a devoted and passionate nurse, maintaining roles as an ER nurse, Hospice nurse, Labor & Delivery nurse, School nurse, and Nursing College Professor. Her favorite of which was Labor & Delivery. Carrie married the “love of her life” Frank Mabrey on January 12, 1977. Frank and Carrie resided in Rockford, Illinois for many years until retiring and building their dream home in Violet Hill, Arkansas. Carrie breathed life into everything around her. She had a “green thumb” and always maintained flower, vegetable, and herb gardens. Even into her later years, the garden was reduced to pots on her patio that she would tend to in between rests on her white rocking chair with a hot cup of coffee in hand. Carrie was a loving mother to 4 children, 12 stepchildren, grandmother to her 11 grandchildren and 10 step grandchildren, and 20+ great-grandchildren. Preceding Carrie in death are her parents: Amanda (Brown) and James Richard Hodges, her brother: James Edward Hodges and sisters: Louise Hayles, Annie Lucas, Loretta Hodges, children: Jimmy (Sharon) McDonald, James McDonald, John McDonald, Annie Stark. Carrie is survived by her siblings: William Hodges (Ana), Myretta Wilson; her children Mamie Wright (Don), Mona Lusk, Pam Shultz (John), on stepdaughter Eloise Cecka, her grandchildren: Robert McDonald, Carrie Nevarez, Steven McDonald, Shawana Hardaway, Clint Burden, Melissa Hensley, Natalie Stabler, Nathan Lusk, Nicole Weekly, Johnathon Shultz and Amber Shultz. A memorial service will be held at Fort Caroline Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, December 19th at 2:00 PM. Revered Richard Powell and Dr. John Shultz will officiate. Expressions of Sympathy may be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeast Florida (https://www.communityhospice.com/give/).